Anime Spotlight: Five Star Stories

Released by ADV Films

ADV has put together a unique release for the unique title Five Star Stories. The thin case, and lack of English language audio goes well with a series that has been an intricate display sitting in the window of anime fandom. The original manga ran in the Japanese version of the prominent periodical NewType from 1985, rather than the traditional manga anthologies. 26, oversized 80 page volumes have been translated to English, but from Toy Press rather than the better known manga translators/distributors.

There are two audiences for this release: fans of the manga who have probably already tracked down the anime and want to upgrade to an official release (though for many of the fans, the adaptation is a point of debate in the way Tolkein fans debate over the Jackson movies), and sci-fi/giant robot fans in the mood for an impressive curiosity.

As a prologue chapter, and one that is very unlikely to be further adapted (creator politics), the anime is a taste of Five Star Stories would look like as anime. The release does give a new audience a leg up. The supplementary fold out mini guide provides with character, backgrounds, and timelines assists in picking out the significance of what occurs in the anime. For fans looking for a majestically designed extension to the 80's sci-fi anime look, Five Star Stories is worth being exposed to.

Mamoru Nagano (mechanical designer for L-Gaim and Zeta Gundam, character designer for Brain Powerd) brings a background in fashion in constructing stately giant knight's armors, and cyclopean mecha, in the scale of their regal crests, they look as ceremonial and timeless as they do combative. If Paris was turning out colossal war machines, they might turn out like Nagano's.

Nagano couples his design with a story that approaches Dune level complexity, though maybe not philosophical ambition. Inter planetary politics are played out with masked identities and hidden technologies. Whose who seem to be power during the animated segment often turn out to be pawn or gnats. Going into the anime blind, it turns out to be a surprising start point by the time the chapter has concluded.

Following the intricacies of Five Star Stories' plot and the and tech specs of mecha a hobby in and of it itself that in passion rather than size can rival or surpass Gundam's. Taking the anime as it own entity, it isn't going to invoke this fascination. With baroque outfits, attractively design mecha, light saber like weapons shown to cut and cauterize, buzz saw cyborg knights, and a host of other quick geek niceties, it offers more the way of stand out geek elements than a complete, successful work.

Anime Spotlight: Samurai Champloo volume 3

Released by Geneon

Shinichiro Watanabe's, of Cowboy Bebop fame, scratch style samurai serial, continues mixing anachronism and beat with wildfire sword fights as it hits its half way point.
Watanabe didn't take the full Bebop staff with him, and while Champloo is consistently entertaining, it doesn't capture Bebop's feel of spontaneous inspiration. Unlike Cowboy Bebop, there isn't the anticipation to see what's new in each episode, fostered by the greater majority delivering as great stand alone anime work.

The third volume feature stand alone episodes that at most hint at the central plot, along with from a viewer perspective, a very unneeded re-cap episode. Two of the episodes work on par with the rest of the series, material that's new and well executed, but while ran-drop punctuated erotic scenes and lower-frame rate, black and white martial arts flashbacks are inventive, they aren't enough to work the episodes into the realm of the memorable.

Fans coming to the series for samurai action will enjoy an episode with a bit of camp, a bit of well choreographed and nicely interactive sword fighting and some fun flirtation with ki-blasts, but the real stand out of the volume is the first episode. Not just as a marijuana answer to Cowboy Bebop's Mushroom Samba, but for a sample of the mental landscape work of Mind Game's Masaaki Yuasa.

Drugs in anime seem to inspire as much naughty giggles as psychedelic appreciation. Yuasa unmistakably takes the work into something strange and colorful.

The events spiral from standard Samurai Champloo fair with corrupt check point officials, joggers from the Edo era, Okinawan swordsman Mugen facing off against a revolutionary band of warrior monk followers, almost ending in crucifixions for 2 of the 3 protagonists. Rather than going to the route of unnatural imagery, Yuasa puts together vivid departures of physical logic. Going from a fight between the free moving Mugen and a pole wielding revolutionary to a distortion of shape and color provides offers a taste of what will hopefully later be available in full form in Mind Game

Manga Spotlight: I"s

by Masakazu Katsura

Volume 1

Released by Viz

With Video Girl Ai, DNA^2 and most recently I"s under his belt, Masakazu Katsura is one of the leaders in shonen romance. I"s is more of a back to basics comedy drama in the tradition of Kimagure Orange Road (sans psychics) than his more high concept past works. It's an unabashed love triangle in which Ichitaka has a crush of Iori, but he's sending so many mixed signals. She doesn't know how to handle him. His childhood friend Itsuki (three 'I' named characters, hence the title) is back in the neighborhood, she still has a crush on Ichitaki and is now alot more outgoing than she was in their younger days.

The difference between I"s and the general character of shounen romance is that is funny without being outrageous and the closer comedy/drama mix of shoujo. The standard device of misunderstanding gets plenty of play, but unlike, say Love Hina, the misinterpretations of intentions and opposing perspective makes sense.

Ichitaka, having been badly stung by a humiliating rejection in middle school is inclined to hide his feelings. However, he also has heterosexual motivations. The relationship circuit gets moving when the normally shy first the normally shy, but drama performing poses suggestively in a magazine.
As Ichitaka's conflicted motivations begin churning (abetted by the less attractive but more opinionated friend/ comic devise) the two I's are randomly selected to work together for their class' new student welcoming committee.

It's not exactly that Ichitaka is fowling up every chance to connect with Iori because he's a loser. As a comedy and a rather long series, the author is going to make things has hard for the hero as possible, but there's enough rational and back bone to keep the character likable.

At first Ichitaka can't distinguish himself in the crowd of admirers. Then he's so reserved that his actions when working in close proximity get conveyed as dislike. As he begins showing affection, she receives plenty of reason for her to see him as a creep. It would be an understatement to say that there is potential in the group to cover in their relationship.

Being a shounen series, beside the humiliation comedy of putting the hero in a Sisyphus-ian relationship hell of misunderstandings, the other pillar on work is nudity, or at least T&A. While the characters aren't trying to get into anyone's pants, nudity is integral to the plot and the series is punctuated with plenty of titillation shots. Of note Viz imposed stars over some nipples, which is a bit annoying rather than content altering. With a that works at the juncture of sex comedy and relationship comedy, a hard pg 13 isn't a bad idea.

For an older than teen audience, the characters look too young. Given that Katsura's illustration is a degree more concrete the norm, establish shots with spooky-realistic shading, gradually toned down into a more simplified standard, it's too easy to picture these characters as actual teens rather than outlandish fictional constructs. Consequently, it's creepy seeing that flash panties or pose suggestively.

Comic Preview: Bizenghast

By M. Alice LeGrow

Volume 1

Released by TOKYOPOP

Bizenghast is close enough to manga Hawthorne to be very intriguing. It stands more on goth appeal and goes further into Labyrinth territory than American folklore but it does flavor the meticulously haunting design. While there's elements to pick apart with flaws in illustration, fact and history, it works as an immersive experience in twists of fairy tale logic and visual imagination.

The trip opens with Dinah, an Alice with flowing black hair in updated Victorian clothes, who was sent to a Massachusetts relic after a family tragedy. With her friend/protector/confidant Vincent she stumbles into a spirit world of riddle locked traps.

Out of a location that's old by European-american standards Bizenghast establishes a very unreal place. Crumbling, ivy entombed, almost more villages than building complexes, it starts with a place that despite cell phones is out of time, and slips into something that's further out time with cathedrals, Poe-like shattered manors, and mixes of European mythic and religious imagery.

It has the right warped logic and warning cadence. As a dark fantasy, it's chilling. If you're trying to fit it over American folklore, it's problematic. Elements of local lore aren't absent, but they are in the shadow larger sights. Many of the pieces and influences ring more continental than colonial or specifically puritan. The author takes the story in her own direction, and the results are peppered with enough turn-back-to pages of break the mold frightning oddity, but the setup seems an odd feint. Given that the series is staged someplace very specific, and someplace with a comparatively long history of folk lore and horrors, the choice of where to ground the series seems a bit counter productive.

Harmony Gold Brings Back Macross

Harmony Hold's Robotech.com is offering a collected edition of Macross, featuring AnimEigo's restoration of the sci-fi that was adapted into the first third of Robotech. The collection is available for pre-order at $124.99

Hellsing OAV Info

Anime on DVD reports a recent Rondo Robe indicated that the direct to video series will be open-ending until the manga creator of the horror action determines the conclusion for the series. The 35 minute episodes will be released in Japan starting at the end of the year, and is currently being planned for a three year run. The manga author is heavily involved right down to the casting and the animation direction is supposed to be very close to how the manga itself looks.

See here for the original Japanese report.

One Piece Merchandise From Mattel

4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and Toei Animation announced today a multi-year licensing agreement with Mattel, Inc. for the toy company to serve as master toy licensee for One Piece, the pirate adventure appearing on 4Kids Entertainment's Saturday morning children's programming block on FOX, as well as on Cartoon Network's Toonami block on Saturday evenings.

The master toy license grants Mattel the exclusive rights for a full range of products including action figures, play sets, role-play items, and games and puzzles. The initial launch of One Piece toys is anticipated to be available at retail in the United States and Canada by December 2005.

4Kids Entertainment and Toei Animation recently awarded Bandai rights to create ONE PIECE video games for the Sony PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube platforms and collectible card games. Bandai video games and the trading card game are anticipated to debut at retail in Fall 2005.

Pre-Anime Expo Licensing Announcements

Leading up to Anime Expo, one of the largest anime convention in the US, Galaxy Anime has found out that Geneon has licensed GUNxSWORD, an anime about to commence on Japanese TV.

ADV leaked, through a trailer on their site that they will be releasing the TV series based of martial arts anime Shadow Skill starting this November. The OAV based on the title was released on VHS by Manga Entertainment

Music Problems for Har+Guu

Anime Nation reports that AN Entertainments (affiliated with Anime Nation) release of cult comedy Har+Guu has been delayed because of a copyright dispute over the show's end theme. The AN Entertainment will be using a new instrumental end theme provided by the Japanese licensor.

The first DVD volume of Haré+Guu will be going into replication soon for release later this year. The first of 7 DVD volumes for the TV series will be released in a disc only edition and a disc with collector's box that includes an afro wig that doubles as a chest hair wig.

Gonzo GI Joe Preview

Anime News Network points out that design art for anime Studio Gonzo's G.I. Joe Sigma 6 can be seen here

New Gravitation Manga

Anime News Network reports that Genzo is putting out "Track 55", a new chapter of the Gravitation, which will take place after the upcoming Tokyopop release of volume 12. It's the first new chapter since 2002.

Bandai Namco Merger Nears

Anime News Network and Games Industry report shareholders of Bandai and Namco give approval of merger between the two companies. Details of how the new company will function will be announced in September, but Namco is assuring staff that because there isn't a great overlap between the businesses, layoffs are not expected.

Princess Tutu 2 Delay

Anime News Network reports that ADV's production of Princess Tutu Volume 2 - Traumhas is complete, but being held up because of an issue with the Japanese licensor over packaging.

Previews and Trailers

From Twitch and AnimeNation

The live action adaptation of anime/manga street racing series Initial D has setting box office records in Hong Kong. The Japanese trailer can be seen here

Cinema Online has pictures of a Malaysian event for the movie here

Ergo Proxy, from the Shuko Murase of Witch Hunter Robin and Dai Sato of Samurai Champloo and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has gone online at www.ergoproxy.com with a trailer here

A Quicktime trailer for the recent Zeta Gundam Movie can be seen here and the trailer for the upcoming Full Metal Alchemist movie can be seen here

The official site for the Kabuto-o Beetle live action movie, based on the character created by Go Nagai, can be seen in Windows and Real formats.

The official trailer for the CGI animated Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children can be seen at here.

A trailer for the upcoming, and recently licensed GUNxSWORD can be seen here.

Yamato USA San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives

Figures.com has a run down of Yamato USA's exclusives for the San Diego Comic-Con here.

The exclusives include:

Range Murata PSE Pro #01 - Skipper PVC Statue (Silver/Grey Version)

SIF EX: Hellsing - Seras Victoria PVC Statue (Color Variation)

SIF EX: Trigun Maximum - Vash the Stampede PVC Statue (Color Variation)

Ahn No Eun to Attend Comic Con

Infinity Studioes announced that they will be hosting Ahn No Eun, creator of the manwha Café Occult at San Diego Comic Con.

ADV Confirms Second Season of Kaleido Star

Anime News Network reports ADV announced at the Metrocon convention that they will be releasing Kaleido Star: New Wings, the second season of the anime.

October Media Blaster Works

From the Anime Works line:

10/11

Samurai Deeper Kyo Economy Box (6 discs, 26 episodes, $89.95)

Sukisho Vol.1 (of 3) Can't Stop Loving You (episodes 1-4)

10/25

Grenadier Vol.3 (of 3) Touch and Go (episodes 9-12)

Phantom - The Animation

Media Blasters Press(manga)

10/12

Death Trance 3

Eiken 2

Samurai Man 2

Phantom - The Animation

Kei traveled to a new city to start a new life. There he sees the girl of his dreams, Ai, for the very first time. He spots her from 500 meters away, while she's crouched behind a military issue sniper rifle picking off mobsters. Soon Kei's uncanny alertness comes to the attention of Ai's employers, and he's given a simple choice: train to become an assassin, or be marked as Ai's next target.

Samurai Deeper Kyo

At the epic battle of Sekigahara, two samurai face off outside of history. During the heated duel between Kyoshiro and Demon Eyes Kyo, a shooting star slams into the plains, shattering the ground and engulfing both of them. Years later Kyoshiro wanders the land with no knowledge of his past. Hidden deep inside his mind waits the soul of his old opponent, the merciless samurai Kyo.

Sukisho

Sora fell from the roof of his high school and was knocked unconscious. When he finally awoke, he found a kind-hearted boy named Sunao waiting over him. Sunao claims to be his best friend, the but the fall erased some of Sora's memory. He doesn't remember Sunao at all, and the wide-eyed young man acts like much more than just a friend. From that day on, Sora begins to experience flashbacks in which he is not himself, but a mysterious alternate personality with hidden powers. He begins to search for the secret of his lost memory and the flashbacks, but will Sunao be his companion, or his enemy?

Media Blasters will also be releasing Takashi Miike's (Ichi The Killer, One Missed Call) Izo Special Edition and Negotiator on 10/11 and 10/25 respectively

Kekko Kamen: The MGF Strikes Back!, a live action adaptation of Go Nagai's manga will be released 10/25

ADV Talks Area 88

ADV has announced that Treacherous Skies, the first volume of "Anime’s Answer to Top Gun" Area 99 will be released July 19th.

First broadcast on Japanese television a little over a year ago, Area 88 is based on the classic manga by Kaoru Shintani with a screenplay by Hiroshi Onogi (RahXephon, Macross Zero). It tells the story of Shin Kazama, an ace pilot on the verge of a comfortable life with a commercial airline. Tricked into joining a motley crew of mercenary fighter pilots, Shins only way out is to complete the three year term or pay $1.5 million to break the contract.

Synopsis: Welcome to Area 88, a desolate outpost in the sun-blasted desert where mercenary fighter pilots risk their lives in service to the Kingdom of Alsam. Any skilled pilot will do - no questions asked. They literally kill for cash as they fight for the government of a country torn apart by a bloody civil war. The catch? Once you're in, the only way out is to serve your three year commitment, pay $1.5 million for breach of contract, or... face death as a deserter.

Who are these pilots and why do they suffer the pains of the desert to serve a country that isn't their own? Some fight because it's all they know. Some have nowhere else to go. Some fly for the thrill of the game. Shin Kazama, the only Japanese pilot on the base, is different from the rest. He may be the only pilot capable of earning enough money to buy out his contract... if he lives long enough. But Shin fights only to return to Japan, to a life and a love that was stolen from him in cruel act of betrayal.

Stunningly realistic animation and sound transport you into the soul of Area 88 where you can almost feel the jet wash on the desert wind. Once you're in, there's no going back. This is Area 88. In the desert the souls of men are either consumed by the fire or reborn from the ashes.

Contests

TOKYOPOP is running a "Win a Mountain of Tokyopop Manga" contest for the person who refers the most people to "Princess Ai". See here for more information.

FUNimation is running a Full Metal Alchemist contest that will including a trip to Japan to see L'Arc~en~Ciel in concert. See here for more details.

Upcoming Manga Premieres

Del Rel will be releasing Gacha Gacha starting August 20th, and Sugar Sugar Rune and Ghost Hunt starting September 27th.

CMX will begin Iwahara Yuji's Chikyu Misaki and Tachibana Kaimu's Pieces of A Spiral in September.

New Anime Adapations

Anime News Network reports that popular cute-demon Playstation 2 game Disgaea will be adapted into an anime by Ronde Rob.

AnimeNation reports Yoshihiro Takahashi's dog manga Ginga Densetsu Weed will be adapted into a pay-per-view anime. The official site is online here

A Look At Harlequin Manga

Newsarama has a preview of Dark Horse's romance manga team with Harlequin here

Comics Journal Looks at Shoujo Manga

Prestigous comics periodical Comics Journal will be looking at shoujo manga in issue 269.

The cover interview spotlights pioneering shoujo cartoonist Moto Hagio, often called the Osamu Tezuka of women’s manga, who is renowned both for her psychologically challenging stories and as the originator of the shonen-ai (boy love) subgenre. Hagio was one of the ringleaders of the Magnificent Forty-Niners, a loose confederation of female manga creators who challenged the then-male- dominated shoujo industry in the early 1970s and left it utterly transformed.

Scholar and translator Matt Thorn sits down for a long and fascinating conversation with Hagio (her first full-length interview ever), and also contributes an essay explaining who the Forty-Niners were and why their influence is still felt today. As if that werent enough, we also present the first-ever English translation of Hagios seminal short story Hanshin, which has been studied by Japanese scholars and even adapted into a Japanese theater production.

Also: Journalist Kai-Ming Cha traces the rise of shoujo as a market force in Asia and the United States; cartoonist Lea Hernandez explains how shoujo shaped her view of comics as an art form; cartoonist and historian Trina Robbins examines all-ages manga for girls; TCJ Managing Editor Dirk Deppey offers a theory as to why such boys manga titles as Chobits, Love Hina and Negima have developed such strong followings among female readers; Kristy Valenti looks at the growing popularity of yaoi and shonen-ai comics; and our critics review a wide array of shoujo titles for your edification.

Anime Game News

The official site for the game connected to burgeoning franchise Eureka Seven is online at eureka-game.ne

AnimeNation reports that the third Fullmetal Alchemist PS2 action RPG game, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi 3: Kami o Tsugu Shoujo (Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl who Succeeded God) has a trailer here. The game will be released in Japan this July.

GungHo Online Entertainment announced that they will be developing a massively multiplayer online RPG based on classic post apocalyptic fight epic Fist of the North Star.

The site for Playstation2 RPG Gundam Seed Generation of C.E. is online here

Gamespot reports Bandai has revealed new details about its Gundam: Battle Tactics game for the Sony PSP. The game will be released in Japan on September 22nd. Development of Gundam: Battle Tactics is currently 75 percent complete, but no US release date has been set. Players will fight in a 3D, third-perosn perspective field from mobile suits in missions based on the original Gundam's One-Year War. Gundam: Battle Tactics will allow up to four players to challenge each other via Wi-Fi, either in singles battle or team battle.

The latest PlayStation 2 Gundam game has been released in the US. Today, Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam shipped for the PlayStation 2 for the retail price of $39.99. The corresponding promotional contest can be seen here

From The Magic Box

Screenshots of Bandai's Cowboy Bebop: Tsuitou no Yakyoku for the Playstation 2 can be seen here. The game, schedule to be released in Japan August 25th, features missions divided into action, fighting and shooting.

Bandai will be releasing the fight game Dragon Ball Z: Mukuregen for Nintendo DS, the sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors for GBA will be released in Japan this winter.

Banpresto's Dragon Ball Z fighting arcade game Chou Dragon Ball Z can be seen here. The game is being developed by ex-Capcom producer Funamizu (Street Fighter II) and his studio Craft and Meister.

Jump Superstars featuring various characters from Shonen Jump (One Piece, Naruto, Shaman King, Dragon Ball) will be released August 9th for the Nintendo DS.

Bandai's Nintendo DS RPG DS RPG Full Metal Alchemist: Dual Sympathy in Japan on July 21.

New screen shots of Tomy's Nintendo DS RPG Naruto RPG 2: Chidora vs Rasengan, to be released in Japan this July, can be seen here.

Not anime related, but amusing, Mesal Gear Solid - Snake Escape, Metal Gear Solid meets Ape Escape.

Gundam True Odyssey: Ushinawareshi G's Densetsu, the new Gundam universe RPG can be see here

Cartoon Network at Comic-con International

Cartoon Network and Art Swim will be running panels and special events at the San Diego Comic-Con to be held in San Diego, Calif., Thursday, July 14 - Sunday, July 17.

Panels

Adult Swim Show Pitch Panel

Thursday, July 14, 5:30-7 p.m. (PT)

Location: 6CDEF

Nick Weidenfeld, Adult Swims manager of development, hosts a discussion on what makes successful pitch and what does not. This panel will include a lengthy question and answer session with creators from some of Adult Swims upcoming pilots and series. The panelists include:

Kim Manning, production coordinator, Adult Swim Loren Bouchard creator of Lucy: Daughter of the Devil. This pilot, now in development and set to launch in October 2005, tells the story of Lucy, a young girl who just moved to San Francisco. Her father, who happens to be Satan, becomes concerned after she starts dating a guy named Jesus (pronounced in the Spanish manner). Louren Bouchard is also the producer of Home Movies and Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist.

Adam de la Pena, Peter Girardi, Todd James, co creators of Minori-Team. The pilot of Minori Team will air in October 2005 and follows a team of superheroes, composed exclusively of members of minority groups, joining forces to fight against discrimination. Dino Stamatopoulos, creator of Moral Orel. Important lessons are learned in this new Adult Swim stop-motion series from a Dino Stamatopolous, a former writer on Mr. Show and TV Funhouse among other shows. The pilot will air during Adult Swim in October 2005.

Boondocks Panel And Screening

Friday, July 15, 4:30-5:30 p.m. (PT)

Location:TBD

Mike Lazzo, senior vice president, Adult Swim leads a discussion on Adult Swims next original series, The Boondocks, based on the award-winning comic strip by series executive producer Aaron McGruder. The Boondocks will premiere on Adult Swim, October 2, 2005, at 11 p.m. The panelists include:

Aaron McGruder, creator and executive producer of The Boondocks;

Gary Anthony Anderson, voice of Uncle Ruckus in The Boondocks;

Regina King, voice of Huey and Riley in The Boondocks;

Jill Talley; voice of Sarah in The Boondocks;
John Witherspoon, voice of Granddad in The Boondocks;
and
Cedric Yarbough, voice of Tom in The Boondocks.

Adult Swim Originals Panel

Friday, July 16, 5:30-7 p.m. (PT)

Location: 6CDEF

Keith Crofford, vice president, Cartoon Network Productions, hosts a panel about Adult Swims original comedy series. The creators of Robot Chicken, Tom Goes to the Mayor, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force will be on hand to discuss their series, show clips, and answer questions. The panelists include:

Seth Green and Matt Senreich, co-creators & executive producers of Robot Chicken;

Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, co-creators & executive producers, Tom Goes to the Mayor;
and
Matt Maiellaro and Dave Willis, co-creators of Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Toonami/Igpx Panel

Saturday, July 16, 6-7 p.m. (PT)

Location: 6CDEF

Jay Bastian, director original series of Cartoon Network, hosts a panel to discuss the first original Toonami show, IGPX. The new series will premiere during Toonami on Cartoon Network, Saturday, November 5. IGPX follows a team on their way to the championship race in the world of the Immortal Grand Prix Cartoon Network partnered with Production I.G., the famed Japanese animation studio responsible for Ghost in the Shell and animation sequences in Kill Bill.

Sean Akins, creative director, Toonami, Cartoon Network;

Jason DeMarco, writer and producer, Toonami, Cartoon N etwork;

Mitsuru Hongo, IGPX director, Production I.G.;

Maki Terashima-Furuta, International Operations Manager for Production I.G.;
and
Michelle Rodriguez, voice of Liz Ricarro in IGPX;

Cartoon Network Studios Originals Panel

Sunday, July 17, 1-2:30 p.m. (PT)

Locations: 6CDEF

Brian Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network Studios, hosts a panel on four of Cartoon Networks original series, all of which are produced at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank, Calif. The creators of Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The Life & Times of Juniper Lee, and My Gym Partners a Monkey will be on hand to discuss their series, show clips, and answer questions. The panelists include:

Julie McNally Cahill and Tim Cahill, co-creators of My Gym Partners a Monkey. In this new series, set for 2006, going to school almost literally becomes a trip to the jungle. Through an administrative mix-up (a typo changing Lyon to Lion), 12-year-old Adam Lyon becomes the only human student at Charles Darwin Middle School, where the animal inhabitants of the local zoo and aquarium send their kids.

Judd Winick, creator of The Life & Times of Juniper Lee. This series which premiered on Cartoon Network in May 2005, tells the story about a normal 11-year-old girl who happens to be carrying on a family tradition: she is the Te-zuan-ze, the Protector. In addition to her everyday pre-teen escapades, she is charged with protecting the world from the forces of mischief and chaos that hide everywhere.

Craig McCracken, creator of Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends. Cartoon Networks top series for 2004 returned for a second season in May 2005, continuing the adventures of Mac, a normal 8-year-old, and Blooregard Q. Kazoo, his Imaginary Friend. Creator Craig McCracken also created The Powerpuff Girls for Cartoon Network.

Adam Burton, creator of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. New episodes of this returning series will begin in October featuring the macabre and humorous series about a boy, a girl and their best friend, the Grim Reaper.

Appearance & Signings:

Friday, July 15:

3:00 4:00 p.m. Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, Tom Goes to the Mayor, Adult Swim Booth #5467

Saturday, July 16:

TBA

Sunday, July 17:

TBA

Adult Swim Booth Information

Booth#5467

Wed. July 13, 5:30pm to 9:00pm

Thur. July 14, 9:45am to 7:00pm

Fri. July 15, 9:45am to 7:00pm

Sat. 9:00am to 7:00pm

Sun. 9:45am to 5:00pm

Protoculture Addicts Adds eBooks

AnimeNewsNetwork reports more back issues of Protoculture Addicts are available for download as eBooks from Drive Thru RPG. Now issues # 68-70 and #79 have been added.

TOKYOPOP on Cell Phones

Anime News Network reports that uclick / Andrews McMeel Universal's Go Comics has partnered with TOKOPOP to manga content to cell phones. At this time the content is limited to wall-papers and simple animations. The products covered are Tokyopop in house titles Princess Ai, @Large and ShutterBox. As in house titles, Tokyopop has easier access to license these titles across a broader spectrum of media than titles they license from Japan or Korea.

For more information see here

TOKYOPOP Periodical

TOKYOPOP has released the first issue of its free, quaterly previews magazine Takuhai. In addition to advanced looks at upcoming releases, the magazine features creator interviews, editorial picks, a behind-the-scenes look at making manga, hot fashion, trivia, and much more. Takuhai's previews will not only focus on manga and editorial notes from TOKYOPOP's creators, including those discovered through our Rising Stars of Manga competition, but will also showcase the hottest manga titles from around the world.

TOKYOPOP's free preview periodical Takuhai is online here

Anime At MoMA

Anime News Network points out that the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) will be running Anime!! a look at anime from 1963 to 2005 from July 10th through September.

On display will be everything from 1963's Tetsuwan Atom (Astro Boy) to 2005's Mindgame, with Evangelion, FLCL, Doraemon and Tezuka's Phoenix among the other titles shown. For more information see MA here

Dark Horse To Release Hellsing Anime Comic in October

Hellsing: Impure Souls features the story and art of Kohta Hirano will be released October 26th for $14.95. The Anime Manga (comics from anime screen shots) follows a secret war brews in the night a war where humanity is only a pawn. The Hellsing Organization deploys in the shadows to protect the mortal world. But now, artificially spawned vampires have appeared, forcing Hellsing to call in their ultimate weapon the rogue vampire, Alucard.

The cover an seen here

ADV Clarifications

From AnimeNation's report on ADV's panel at the Metrocon convention.

AD Vision has not canceled any manga titles. Certain titles are simply on temporary hiatus or a delayed release schedule.

No comment was given on whether or not the American release of Elfen Lied will include the Japanese home video exclusive episode.

Director James Cameron has "all rights" to Battle Angel (Gunnm) in America. The anime is not available in America now because Cameron has not re-released it.

They stressed the fact that a Japanese title being co-produced by an American company is not a guarantee that the title will be released in America. No comment on whether or not the new Bio-Booster Armor Guyver anime will be released in America.

The Anime Network has plans to schedule a "block" of subtitled programming.

Geneon to Release Tetsujin 28 Anime

Geneon will be releasing the first volume of Tetsujin 28, a remake of the original series that was redubbed as Gigantor on September 27th. The series features original story by Mitsuteru Yokoyama and direction by Yasuhiro Imagawa (Giant Robo).

The journey begins when Professor Kaneda creates the ultimate soldier robot, Tetsujin, as a substitute for his son, Shotaro, whom he mistakenly believed died in a bomb raid on Tokyo during World War II. To prevent the army from using Tetsujin as a tool for destruction, the professor hides the robot on a remote island. Ten years after the war, Tetsujin is finally resurrected after 28 attempts made by the late Professor Kaneda's protege, Professor Shikishima. Meanwhile, Shotaro has grown up to become a genius boy detective and now joins forces with his beloved Tetsujin to wage a courageous battle against evil! A legendary masterpiece, which shines in the history of postwar manga, is now resurrected brilliantly!

CPM Acquires "Otaku Unite!"

Central Park Media has announce dthe acquisition of director Eric Bresler's acclaimed Otaku Unite!, an independent, feature-length documentary on the history of Japanese animation fandom in the United States. Otaku Unite! has already generated significant buzz, as it has been screened at numerous animation conventions in the U.S. including "Anime Expo", "Otakon" and "San Diego Comic-Con".

Otaku Unite! illustrates the sense of unity and passion among anime fans ("otaku") by covering the evolution of anime fandom from its humble beginnings to a highly visible and noteworthy mainstream audience in the United States. Otaku Unite! will be released on DVD for the first time, with extra features and never-before-seen bonus footage. CPM will announce the release date and price for this DVD at the San Diego Comic Con in July.

Japanese Voice Actors Due Royalties

According to Anime Tourist Japanese Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that ordered Nippon Animation Co. to pay royalties to voice actors based on home video sales.

Viz Licenses Naruto to Hot Top

VIZ Media announced an exclusive licensing agreement with retail trendsetter Hot Topic for VIZ Media’s wildly popular Shonen Jump’s Naruto.

On the heels of the U.S. debut of NARUTO on Cartoon Network this Fall, Hot Topic, plans to introduce a comprehensive and exclusive NARUTO product line which will focus on apparel and accessories for the retailer’s core clientele. The Hot Topic line will include junior girls T-shirts, men’s T-shirts, and men’s hoodies as well as NARUTO branded stickers, pins, patches and headbands (in stores and available at www.hottopic.com). Devoted fans of NARUTO will also be able to browse and shop for exclusive NARUTO apparel on the official VIZ Media website (www.viz.com) at the VIZ Media Store. Additionally, Hot Topic will carry the best-selling NARUTO manga in stores.

Drawn and Quatertly to Release Manga

ICV2 reports that Drawn & Quarterly, the publisher of talents such as Chis Ware, Joe Sacco and Jason Lutes will be publishing manga starting with Yoshihiro Tatsumi's "The Push Man and Other Stories", which will be released in hard cover this September.

Cromartie Versus Cromartie High

Twitch reports professional baseball player Warren Cromartie, famous for his career with the Japan's Yomiuri Giants has file an injuction Tokyo District Court against Yûdai Yamaguchi's live action adapation of the absurdist sketch comedy Cromartie High School. The ball player alleges that the movie's (reputed) use of his name without his prior consent infringes upon his publicity rights. He stated that he is angry about being associated with the disreputable school in the movie.

The movie is scheduled to have its international première at Fantasia Film Festival in Montréal on July 16th.

For more information, and a run down of the title see here